Joanna Hunt

A Rugby man who has triumphed over a life-long drug addiction faced his fears when he leapt out of a plane this summer.

Caspar Smith tackled his phobia of heights when he courageously took part in a charity skydive.

He raised hundreds of pounds for Addaction, the UK’s national drug and alcohol treatment charity.

Caspar received treatment for substance misuse at Addaction’s The Recovery Partnership in Rugby, and now promotes recovery at the service.

Caspar said: “It was the craziest, scariest most exciting thing I’ve ever done in my whole life. And believe me, I have been in some gnarly situations – but I would do it again in an instant. It wouldn’t have been possible without Addaction staff.

“I’m so grateful I had the opportunity; for anyone with trust or fear issues it’s a must. I feel free and empowered.

He added: “I’d like to dedicate this jump to George, a Rugby service user who sadly passed away recently. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.”

Caspar raised £741 for Addaction.

Steph Jones, community engagement coordinator at The Recovery Partnership, said: “I was struck by the levels of anxiety that Caspar was experiencing and the courage that he was showing in his commitment to overcoming this fear.

“Although fear is normal at every stage of recovery from addiction, it’s often the emotion that forms a barrier to sustained recovery or initial detoxification. It’s also the emotion that is often seen as wholly negative rather that something that helps guide our decision-making process.

“So how do we help people to enjoy their recovery? We support people to achieve and remain abstinent from mood and mind altering substance, to feel good enough about them to be willing to invest in them. Our recovery programme provides a safe environment for people to voice their fears around cessation and the prospect of life after drugs or alcohol, and supports them to identify and invest in themselves and their relationships with the community in which they live.”

With five sites across Coventry and Warwickshire, Addaction’s The Recovery Partnership offers a wide range of services for people with drug and alcohol problems.